Outlet box cover and fixture support



June 15, 1943. G. o. ADKINS 2,3

OUTLET BOX COVER AND FIXTURE SUPPORT Filed March 22, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Glam 0/? dkz'ns A iiorney June 15, 1943. G. o. AQKINS 4 2,321,640

- I OUTLET BOX COVER AND FIXTURE SUPPORT Filed March 22 1940 .2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Glem 0- Adkins v, A iiomey Patented June 15, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OUTLET BOX COVER AND FIXTUR SUPPORT 1 Claim.

My invention elates to improvements in combined outlet box cover and fixture supports, and an important object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of this character which saves time and labor by being adaptable to fit several different sizes of outlet boxes and by being adjustable to connect with and support fixtures of different sizes and types of both the pendant and wall types, thereby making it unnecessary to keep on hand many different types.

Another important object of my invention is to provide an arrangement of the character indicated above which eliminates the usual fixture stud and extension and provides more room for the splicing and folding of wires in the outlet box.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of the character indicated which meets the requirements for a covered and completely closed outlet box servin as a grounded fitting connection.

Other important objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description and the drawings showing a preferred embodiment of my invention for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view showing the embodiment installed in a ceiling and suspending a stem fixture.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical view taken through an outlet box with the cover in place therein and having the cover eye in place.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of Figure 2 with the adjustable bars in partly retracted positions and showing these bars in fully retracted positions in dotted lines for covering the center opening in the cover.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the adjustable bars in extended positions.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through Figure 4 approximately on the line 55.

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 4 approximately on the line 6-6.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the adjustable bars.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the cover eye.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the fixture hook.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 generally designates a conventional type of universal outlet box having a circular opening 6 having a radially inwardly projecting bottom flange I, the sidewalls of the box being formed with BX conduit passing openings 3, and the outlet box being adapted to be set in an opening in a ceiling or wall or other support 9 approximately flush with the exposed surface thereof, as illustrated in Figure 1. In the case of a stem type fixture involving the pendant tubular stem Ill, through which the fixture wires II pass to the lights of the fixture (not shown), a decorative shell I2 may be employed to surround and conceal the outlet box and the opening in which it is set, with portions of the shell engaging the exposed surface 9 and the stem I0, as illustrated. In the case of a chain type fixture a generically similar but specifically adapted shell would be preferable.

In accordance with the present invention, the opening 6 in the bottom of the outlet box 5 is closed by a circular flat cover plate I3 which has a slot I4 and a keyhole I5 in diametrically opposed relation to accept studs I6 and I? which thread through the flange I as shown in Figure 2. The cover plate has a centralized threaded opening I8 to accept the tubular threaded shank I9 of the cover eye 26 which includes a horseshoe shaped loop 2| at one end, with a locknut 22 threaded on the upper end of the shank I9 and abutting the top of the cover plate. The thread on the shank I9 is a right hand thread. The fixture hook 23 is composed of a tubular threaded shank 24, which also has a right hand thread, and the crook 25 which is adapted to be engaged through the loop 2|, as shown in Figure 1. With this arrangement of the threads on the shanks, the stem III of the fixture can be rotated into threaded connection with the fixture hook easily and quickly, and Without twisting the wires II.

The cover plate I3 is provided with dkiametrically opposed knockouts 26 and 21, respectively, at one side of the slot I4 and keyhole I5, the knockouts being spaced radially inwardly from the keyhole I5 whereby the cover -I3 may be used with smaller diameter outlet boxes. Diametrically opposed threaded holes 28 and 29 are provided in the plate I3 to accept studs for attaching small ceiling fitting and such fixtures as bracket lights.

Diametrically opposed saddles 36 and 3I extending on the lower side of the plate I3 slidably connect the adjustable bars 32 and 33, respectively, which are extensible and contractible in radial directions and arranged to be locked in adjusted position by set-screws 34 in the saddles. The adjustable bars can be used in the partly contracted positions shown in full lines in Figure 3 or in the full retracted positions shown therein in dotted lines. In the latter position the bars completely close the opening is in the plate l3. The bars are extensible beyond the periphery of the cover plate as illustrated in Figure 4. Threaded holes 35 are provided in the outer ends of the bars to receive studs on various kinds of fixtures to connect the fixtures for support from the outlet box.

Although I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to limit the invention thereto beyond the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A cover for an open bottom outlet box, said cover comprising a disk having a central access opening therein, means adapting said disk for attachment to said bottom, a pair of fiat bar slides on the under side of said disk endwise adjustable toward and from each other to close and open said access opening, respectively, and adjustable from each other to extend outwardly beyond the edge of the disk, U-shaped saddles formed integrally with said disk for slidably maintaining the slides in place, and set screws in said saddles for engaging and locking said slides in adjusted position.

GLEN O. ADKINS. 

